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Stew Leonard Jr., CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery store, spoke about the prices of food for the upcoming July 4th holiday. He also discussed safety tips for swimming during the holiday weekend.
Key Facts
Stew Leonard Jr. is the CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery store chain.
He talked about how much holiday food will cost for the 4th of July.
The interview took place on "CBS News 24/7 Mornings."
He provided advice on how to stay safe while swimming during the holiday.
The focus was on preparing for the July 4th weekend.
The interview is available on the CBS News app and website.
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A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration was wrong to fire 19 career intelligence officers who worked on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) issues. The court upheld a previous ruling that blocked the firings.
Key Facts
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision in a 2-1 vote.
The court agreed with an earlier lower court ruling.
The ruling prevents the Trump administration from firing 19 intelligence officers.
These officers were assigned to roles focused on DEIA.
DEIA stands for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The officers had career positions, meaning they were permanent government employees.
The Trump administration had attempted to remove these officers from their roles.
The court found that the firings were not justified under the law.
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The Vatican declared that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, has formally broken away from the Catholic Church. It excommunicated the group's bishops and priests after they consecrated new bishops without the pope’s approval and warned their followers of penalties.
Key Facts
The Vatican said the SSPX officially separated from the Catholic Church, calling it a schism.
The Society of St. Pius X consecrated four new bishops without permission from the pope.
The Vatican’s doctrine office issued the excommunications, which are severe church penalties.
The Vatican warned followers of the SSPX that they could also face serious sanctions.
SSPX opposes modern reforms in the Catholic Church and prefers the old Latin Mass.
The group has challenged the Vatican for about 50 years by claiming to be more faithful to Catholic tradition.
This response by the Vatican is stronger than usual and goes beyond normal church rules.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is being investigated for potentially lobbying the Bank of England to drop a digital currency plan that could help a major donor to his party. A Labour MP has asked a standards watchdog to look into whether Farage broke parliamentary rules by pressing the Bank’s governor on this issue after receiving large donations.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage met with Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, to oppose a state-run digital currency plan.
Farage’s major donor, Christopher Harborne, gave £15 million to Reform UK and an undisclosed £5 million to Farage personally.
Harborne is a wealthy investor interested in cryptocurrencies and could benefit from stopping the digital currency plan.
Labour MP Phil Brickell reported Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner over possible lobbying rule breaches.
Brickell said MPs should not lobby public officials for policies that benefit people who pay them.
The Bank of England has refused so far to release details of Farage’s meeting with its governor.
Farage and Harborne have denied any conditions linked to the donations.
Another Labour MP has also asked for details of the meeting between Farage and Andrew Bailey.
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Two boys in Hampshire were originally given sentences without jail time for raping two teenage girls. The Court of Appeal changed these to four years in detention after deciding the first judge underestimated the seriousness of the crimes.
Key Facts
The two boys raped two teenage girls on separate occasions.
The boys were originally given non-custodial sentences but these were overturned by the Court of Appeal.
The Court said that if they were adults, longer sentences of over 10 years would apply.
The boys had already served 231 days under curfew, which counts toward their prison time.
They also received lifelong restraining orders to keep away from the victims.
A third boy involved, who filmed one of the attacks, did not have his sentence changed.
The Attorney General called the original sentences too lenient and referred them to the appeal court.
Victims’ families said the updated sentences better reflect the harm caused, and one family started a charity to support survivors of sexual violence.
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Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps are using combat drones in Mali that were previously mainly seen in the war in Ukraine. These drones, called Lancet loitering munitions, are small missile-like devices with cameras, used to target vehicles and armed groups in the Sahel region of Africa.
Key Facts
The Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary group, now supports the Malian army after replacing the Wagner Group.
They have deployed the Lancet drone, a loitering munition used since 2020 by Russia in Ukraine.
The Lancet drone can fly for a long time and is remotely piloted via a camera.
Images of drone debris found in Mali match parts sold on a Ukrainian resale website featuring captured Russian equipment.
The drone was found near Timbuktu after Russian mercenary drone strikes targeting rebel separatists and jihadist groups.
The Lancet drone was designed to hit armored vehicles and artillery, not for use in African environments or against insurgent forces.
The drones are used alongside reconnaissance drones to seek out and attack targets like pickup trucks in conflict zones.
The drone debris evidence came from an anonymous source linked to the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group active in northern Mali.
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Even though the U.S. hosted the World Cup, June job numbers do not show an increase in hiring for tourism-related businesses. Leisure and hospitality jobs, which include restaurants and hotels, actually fell by 61,000 in June, and data was revised down for May.
Key Facts
The U.S. hosted the World Cup in 2024.
Leisure and hospitality jobs dropped by 61,000 in June.
May's reported gain of 70,000 jobs was revised down to 40,000.
The leisure and hospitality sector lost an average of 9,000 jobs per month over the last three months.
In the 12 months before that, the sector had been adding an average of 13,000 jobs per month.
Monthly job numbers can change due to seasonal adjustments and sampling errors.
Other economic signs of the World Cup effect, like retail sales and tax collections, will be watched.
Local employment data for the cities hosting the World Cup will be released later.
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The Court of Justice of the European Union has confirmed a $4.7 billion fine against Google for abusing its dominant position in the Android phone market. The fine is related to Google making its search engine and Chrome browser the default options on many Android devices, which the EU says limits competition.
Key Facts
In 2018, Google was fined 4.34 billion euros (about $4.9 billion) by the EU for abusing its Android market monopoly.
A lower court later reduced the fine to 4.1 billion euros ($4.7 billion), which Google must now pay.
The EU's complaint focuses on Google bundling its search engine and Chrome browser as default apps on Android phones.
This affects devices from companies like Samsung and Xiaomi, making Google's apps automatically used.
Google argues there is plenty of competition because users can install alternative apps and search services.
Europe has a history of similar cases, like forcing Microsoft to offer browser choices in Windows.
Google has made some changes, like adding ballot screens and supporting third-party app stores, largely due to legal pressure.
The EU is using new laws, such as the Digital Markets Act, to increase oversight of big tech companies including Google.
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Prada appointed Palestinian singer Saint Levant as a brand ambassador. Some pro-Israel social media users are upset because Saint Levant wore a necklace showing the map of historic Palestine in a campaign video. This has led to calls for boycotting Prada.
Key Facts
Prada chose Palestinian singer Saint Levant to represent their brand.
Saint Levant wore a necklace with a map of historic Palestine in an ad video.
The necklace's image sparked anger among pro-Israel groups online.
Social media users have called for a boycott of Prada because of this.
The controversy connects to ongoing tensions between supporters of Israel and Palestine.
Prada’s decision highlights the sensitivity around symbols tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This backlash shows how brands can become involved in political and cultural disputes.
The issue gained attention through coverage by news outlets like Al Jazeera.
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A weather event called a heat dome will bring very hot temperatures to many parts of the United States during the Fourth of July weekend. This heat dome will cover much of the East Coast, the South, and other regions, leading to dangerous heat conditions.
Key Facts
Millions of Americans will experience the heat dome during Independence Day celebrations.
The heat dome causes a large area of high pressure that traps warm air.
This results in extremely hot temperatures over several days.
The affected areas include most of the East Coast and the southern United States.
Meteorologists warn that the heat could create dangerous health conditions.
The heat dome will last through the holiday weekend.
People are advised to take steps to stay cool and hydrated.
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A 43-year-old security guard, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was rescued alive after being trapped for eight days under a collapsed shopping mall in La Guaira, Venezuela, following two strong earthquakes. International rescue teams worked under difficult conditions to save him, while many others remain missing or injured.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela, killing nearly 2,200 people and injuring over 11,000.
Hernán Alberto Gil Flores was trapped in his security cabin in the basement of Galerías Playa Grande mall for eight days.
A pocket of air in his cabin helped him survive the collapse.
Rescue teams from Costa Rica, Chile, the US, Portugal, and Mexico worked together to find and extract him.
Rescuers used a telescopic camera and a narrow shaft to keep contact and provide water and nutrients.
The rescue was complicated by unstable buildings, heavy rain, and aftershocks.
Most collapsed buildings in La Guaira have been searched with no survivors found.
The community faces shortages of food and water, and there have been reports of theft and arrests of police officers involved.
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The French TV show Paris des Arts featured a special edition in Fez, Morocco, focusing on the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music. The program highlighted Moroccan singer Nabyla Maan and pianist Rami Khalifé, who shared their personal connections to music and its cultural importance. A local guide also explored the historic medina of Fez.
Key Facts
Paris des Arts is a French cultural TV show.
The special edition was filmed in Fez, Morocco.
It covered the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music.
Singer Nabyla Maan performs traditional Moroccan and Arab-Andalusian music.
Pianist Rami Khalifé views music as a form of political expression.
The medina of Fez is an ancient, large old city within Fez.
The episode aimed to show the dialogue between different cultures and spiritual traditions.
The show was produced by Valérie Fayolle, Stéphanie Cheval, and Pauline Heilmann.
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Research in the UK shows that women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than white women to receive epidural pain relief during childbirth. Experts say this highlights racial inequalities in healthcare, where people of color often get less pain treatment.
Key Facts
The study looked at data from over 2.7 million births in the UK up to 2021.
Women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean backgrounds were 24%, 15%, and 8% less likely than white women to get epidurals during vaginal births.
Black Caribbean-British women were 58% more likely to receive general anesthesia rather than regional anesthesia during planned C-sections compared to white women.
General anesthesia puts the mother fully to sleep and is mostly used in emergencies, while regional anesthesia (like epidurals) allows the mother to stay awake and recover faster.
The findings reflect wider racial inequalities in pain treatment in UK healthcare, from emergency care to cancer pain relief.
Medical professionals call for better data to understand and fix how pain is treated for ethnic minority patients.
The report links these inequalities to deeper problems, including institutional racism and harmful stereotypes about Black and Asian women.
Similar racial disparities in maternity care have also been reported in other countries like the US and Australia.
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The U.S. job market showed slower growth in June than expected, with fewer new jobs added and fewer people working or looking for work. While wages increased slightly, overall hiring has slowed, and fewer industries are creating jobs, raising questions about the job market’s strength.
Key Facts
The U.S. added 57,000 jobs in June, about half the number economists predicted.
Hiring numbers for April and May were revised down by a total of 74,000 jobs.
Job gains averaged 111,000 per month over the last three months, lower than the 164,000 in May but higher than last year’s pace.
The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.2%, mainly because fewer people were working or looking for work.
The labor force participation rate dropped 0.3 percentage points to 61.5%, with a notable decline among prime-age workers (25 to 54 years old).
Wages grew by 0.3% in June and are 3.5% higher than a year ago.
Fewer industries are offering new jobs, limiting opportunities for workers to change jobs or reenter the workforce.
Financial markets still expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year to control inflation despite weaker job growth.
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Frederick Douglass gave a speech on the Fourth of July in 1852, pointing out the contradiction of celebrating freedom while slavery was still happening. Today, Black Americans continue to experience economic and social challenges, but there have been ongoing efforts to achieve racial justice and equality.
Key Facts
Frederick Douglass spoke about the unfairness of celebrating independence during slavery.
His 1852 speech highlighted the gap between American freedom and the reality of slavery.
Black Americans still face economic and social difficulties today.
An Albanian-American man, Artur Shehu, who sold land for a luxury resort project supported by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is under investigation in Albania for drug trafficking, money laundering, and financial fraud. The planned resort has caused large protests in Albania due to concerns about environmental damage and government corruption.
Key Facts
Artur Shehu, an Albanian-American living in Miami, is being investigated for drug trafficking and money laundering by Albanian prosecutors.
He sold land in a protected natural coastal area to a company linked to Jared Kushner and other investors planning a luxury resort.
The resort plans have triggered over a month of protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, involving many groups worried about wildlife and corruption.
Albania’s anti-corruption agency has issued arrest warrants for people involved in international drug trafficking, though names are not publicly confirmed.
Albanian courts have frozen a bank account with more than $127 million linked to the land sale involving Shehu.
Albanian residents claim disputes over the rightful ownership of the land Shehu sold; legal challenges are ongoing.
The investigation into the project does not currently include Kushner’s company, according to Albanian prosecutors.
Shehu has stated his ownership of the land is undisputed and that he sold it through a middleman.
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The Vatican has declared the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to be in formal schism for consecrating four bishops without the pope’s approval. This led to the excommunication of those bishops and others who support the group, banning them from certain church duties.
Key Facts
The SSPX consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV’s permission.
Consecration is a religious ceremony where a bishop gives authority to new bishops through prayer and symbolic actions.
The Vatican declared this act a schism, which means a serious break in church unity.
Those involved, including the new bishops and their supporters, were excommunicated, the strictest Church penalty.
The SSPX rejects many changes made by the Catholic Church during the 1960s reforms known as Vatican II.
The SSPX began in 1970 and follows traditional Catholic practices like the Latin Mass.
The Vatican does not officially recognize the SSPX as part of the Catholic Church.
Despite warnings from Pope Leo XIV, the SSPX proceeded with the consecrations, calling them a necessary defense of tradition.
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The Supreme Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. have citizenship by birthright. In response, some conservatives, including officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, have proposed stopping pregnant women from entering the U.S. to try to limit birthright citizenship.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship in the U.S.
President Donald Trump had issued an executive order early in his term to restrict birthright citizenship.
The court’s decision overturned President Trump’s Day 1 executive order on this issue.
Some far-right groups and members of Trump’s administration reacted strongly against the court’s ruling.
These groups have suggested barring pregnant women from entering the U.S. to prevent “birth tourism.”
Birth tourism means traveling to the U.S. to give birth so the baby gains U.S. citizenship.
The idea to limit pregnant women’s entry aims to reduce this practice.
The debate focuses on immigration and citizenship laws in the United States.
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As the United States marks its 250th birthday, many Americans are focusing on personal and local experiences of the nation rather than political disagreements. People from different states expressed feelings of resilience, unity, and appreciation of freedoms while tuning out political noise.
Key Facts
The U.S. celebrated its 250th anniversary around July 4, 2026.
Many Americans chose to ignore political arguments and social media conflicts during the celebration.
Joe Fuqua-Bejarano in Kansas highlighted resilience as a key American trait.
Christina Zhou from Massachusetts emphasized focusing on local, controllable events.
Mindy Dean, a New Hampshire farmer, said she and her family simply enjoy their freedoms quietly.
Neil Casey and Maureen Regan in New Hampshire visited historical sites and Fourth of July events to connect with the nation’s history.
Some Americans found hope and pride in positive experiences like visitors enjoying the U.S. during the World Cup.
The overall mood included mixed feelings but a shared desire to celebrate the country’s history and unity.
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